Cutter for suction-dredges.



No. 725,818. I I PATENTED APR,Z1, 1903. L. W. BATES.

CUTTER FOR SUCTION DREDGES.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.19, 1000 N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET l @Qg w I i 21.Ma. Wm M NITED STATES AT'ENT OFFICE.

' LINDON WALLACE BATES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CUTTER FOR SUCTION-DREDGES.

1 ECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 725,818, dated April21, 1903.

Application filed October 19, 1900. Serial No. 38,550. (No modem Figure1 is a side elevation of the cutterhead proper; Fig. 2, a top plan viewof the same; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal section of the cutter, itshood or mouthpiece, and a portion of the suction-pipe; and Fig.4, asimilar view showing a modified form of construction.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved rotary cutter ofthe milling type; and a further object is to provide a cutter of saidtype with means for keeping the cutting blades or edges free ofmaterial, especially where the cutter is working in a substance which istenacious in its nature and has a' the cutter and the tendency to adhereto blades.

Other advantages will appear inthe follow-;

ing description. 7

Referring more-particularly'to Figs.'1 to'3, inclusive, A denotestheusual suction pipe or connection, through which extends a rotating shaftor spindle B, having a channel ori passage C formed therein, preferablyin its.

center, as shown, the lower endof the passage being deflected laterally,as indicated in Fig. 3. Securedto the lower end of the shaft is acylindrical, conical, or hyperboloid oasting D. This central castingcarries a n-umber of cutting-blades E, said blades or knives havingtheir edges inclined to the genera trices of the casting under an angleof eighty to sixty degrees, according to the material being excavatedand the depth of working, and the blades are tapered in the same senseas the conical carrier or casting. Mounted upon the shaft at the lowerend of the suction-pipe A is a hell or mouthpiece F, which turns inasnitable box G, the parts being lubricated by water under pressure, asis well understood in this class'of machinery. Sur-- 'm'ounting theconical member or casting B is a boss or cover H, the outer roundingface ofwhich conforms in contour to the inner "curved face of the hellor mouthpiece F, so

that the space formed intermediate the two is equal throughout, and thevelocity of the flow therethroug h 'remains-constan t.

From the construction thus far described it will be noted that thecutter'he'ad or casting D, the mouthpiece, and the boss or cover H allrotate as one with the shaft, and the material which is cut away andloosened is drawn up by the suction-pump into the bell or mouthpiece andthence delivered into the suction-pipe proper.

In working upon material which is tenacious or adhesive in its nature acutter of the form shown may become clogged, and to prevent this thereare formed in the lower wall of the cylindrical or conical memberpassages I I, which communicate with the lower end of the passage C inthe spindle or shaft through an annular channel'or way J, which extendsaroun'dthe hub of'the casting and connects with'all of said passages I.As will be noted upon reference to Figs. 1 and 3, the outer ends of thepassages I are given a'slight upward inclination and open intermediatethe lower ends of the cutter bladeS or knives.

Water being supplied tothe'passage C under pressure, it will beprojected from the mouths of the passages'I with considerable force anddetachany material which may collect in the space between the adjacentknives. Inasmuchas the jets are directed'upwar dly, any material thusloosened from the cutter-head will'haveimparted toit an upward movement,bringing it into line with the path of suction and at the same timedisintegrating it to-a greater or less extent.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a modified construction, wherein the bell ormouthpiece instead of rotating withthe cutter-head is fixed to the lowerend of the suction, and the shaft or spindle passes through a bearing K,preferably formed of lignum-vitae. In said figure is also shown amodified construction of the water-jets. Instead of employing theannular passage connecting the series of jets or outlets the channel orpassage C, formed in ICO It is manifest that various forms ofcutterblades or knives may be employed and that other means forsupplying the jets may be used without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A cutter forsuction-dredges provided with a rotating head having cutter-bladesmounted thereon; a suction member located above said cutter-blades inline therewith; means for positively rotating said cutter; and meansindependent of the action of the cutter for freeing the cutter fromadhering material.

2. In combination with a closed rotary member, cylindrical or conical inform, a series of blades carried by said member; and a suction deviceextending around the rotary member in a plane above the blades.

3. In combination with a rotating cylindrical or conical member, aseries of cutterblades mounted thereon, said blades being inclined withrelation to the longitudinal axis of said rotary member; a suctiondevice extending around the rotary member above said blades or knives;and means for removing adhering material from said blades.

4. In combination with a closed rotary cutter of the milling type; abell or mouthpiece located above said cutter and extending around theupper portion of the same at a distance therefrom; and a suction-pipeWorking in conjunction with said mouthpiece.

5. In combination with a cylindrical or conical shaped cutter-head; aseries of blades or knives carried thereby; a cover or boss for theupper end of said cutter-head; and a mouthpiece or bell located adjacentto said boss, the inner face of said mouthpiece corresponding in contourto the adjacent outer face of-the boss, whereby the space formedintermediate the two is constant throughout.

6. In combination with a rotative cutterhead; a cover or boss thereforprovided with a rounding surface; and a mouthpiece or bell located in aplane above said boss or cover, the line of curvature of said mouthpiececorresponding to that of the boss.

7. In combination with a closed rotary cutter carrying a series ofknives or blades; 2. bell or mouthpiece located above the blades andsurrounding the upper end of the cutter; and a series of water-jetsacting in the space intermediate the blades, whereby material tending toadhere to said blades and cutter will be loosened.

8. A rotary cutter provided with a cylindrical or conical head; a seriesof cutterblades carried by said head arranged to act directly on thematerial being excavated; and a series of water-jets acting in thespaces intermediate said blades.

9. A rotary cutter provided with a cylindrical or conical head; a seriesof cutterblades or knives carried thereby arranged to act directly onthe material being excavated; and a series of water-jets opening fromthe lower end of the head upwardly into the spaces intermediate theblades.

10. In combination with a rotating shaft or spindle, a cylindrical orconical head or casting secured to the lower end thereof; a series ofcutter-blades or knives carried by said head; a series of water-jetsopening into the spaces between the said knives at the lower end of thehead; a boss or cover H mounted upon the upper end of the conical head;and a bell or mouthpiece mounted above the boss or cover.

11. In combination with rotary shaft B provided with a longitudinalopening; a conical head or casting D having an annular chamber J formedtherein connecting with a series of channels I; a series ofcutter-blades carried by said head; a boss H mounted upon the upper endof said casting; a bell or mouthpiece F likewise mounted upon the shaftin a plane above said boss; a suction-pipe; and suitable connectionsintermediate said pipe and the mouthpiece.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

LIND ON WALLACE BATES.

- Witnesses:

WM. 0. BROWN, H. MAYKELS.

